With our event planning well underway, I’ve been thinking about ways that I can have an even better time at Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco this year.  As marketing director, I get to share in the attendee experience since the keynotes, expo hall and conference are very relevant to my day to day job – especially the marketing track.

1. I’m going to go to at least 5 conference sessions outside the marketing & community track. In NY, I got to see at least one session on UX that gave me a great understanding as a marketer of how to present information to visitors. This year, I’d like to explore more in the design and user experience track, the mobile track (I *heart* my iPhone), and the strategy and business models track.
2. I’m going to meet more new people – maybe put some real faces to the Twitter personas I’ve been following.
3. Ignite. I attended last year’s Ignite at the DNA Lounge but only made it through the first half. However, now I’m hooked. It’s like open mike night meets geek grad school! Here’s hoping there will be more robots.
4. Bye-bye to schlepping my laptop all over Moscone West. I got an iPhone from my husband for my birthday so I can check my calendar, view the online schedule, Twitter and keep up with my email. I think this one device will have a huge impact on my enjoyment of the event and I’m really looking forward to experiencing the mobile apps created to enhance Web 2.0 Expo as an attendee would.
5. Web2Open.  The last two years I’ve only had a brief moment to pop my head into the Web2Open area, but this year I’d really like to participate.  This “unconference” portion builds itself and I think this will be the perfect spot to pick others’ brains and get a feel for what topics are really resonating with the community.

I’ll come back and post again with some tips for how you can make the most of your experience. Please leave any suggestions or questions in the comments here.

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